Webbing buckle for garters



May 6, 1930. B. RUSS 5 WEBBING BUCKLE FOR GARTERS Filed Aug. 21, 1929INVENTOR John 5. Fuss Patented May 6, 1930 PATENT orries JOHN B. RUSS,SI-IELTON,.GO1\INEGTICUT WEBBING- BUCKLE FOR GARTERS Application filedAugust 21, 1929. Serial No. 387,289.

The present invention relates to webbing buckles for garters andcomprises a novel device. that is self-locking, that lies flat when,worn and that does not tear the surface of the web.; .The bucklemay beeconomically manufacturediand utilized a minimum of metal. 7 The bucklecomprises two parts, one of which is preferably pivotally mounted on the.other andisswedged to the webbing, the two parts cooperating to holdthe buckle in the adjusted position along the garter webbing. A featureof the invention is the absence of the usual metal lever by means ofwhich the buckle is adjusted and which so often catches on and tears theapparelof the wearer and adds to the thickness of the buckle. Anotherfeature of the invention is the absence of sharp teeth in contact withtheouter surface of the webbing, whereby disfigurationof the'webbing isprevented and adjust- Inentof the buckle is facilitated. Other featuresof novelty will become apparent as the description proceeds. e

For an understanding of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings in which: i 1 Fig; 1 is a front view of a garterprovided withzaibuckle constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the buckle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line S3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig: 1 shown in the openposition;

Fig. 5 is a rear plan view of the buckle of Figl -l'shown beforeattachment to the webbing;-

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of a garter provided with a modifiedtype of buckle, part of the webbing and buckle being cut away to showthe buckle construe tion; and

Fig.-7is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig-6 shown in the openposition.

The buckle illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inelusive comprises a wire link1, preferably open at one side and flattened at the opposite side, and aweb engaging plate member 2 journaled upon the trunnions 3 formed of theinwardly projecting ends of the open side of the link 1. The plate 2serves both as a base to which the end of the webbing is swedged andalso, in conjunction with the upper side of the link 1, as the means forkeeping the buckle at the position to which it has been adjusted. Theplate 2 comprises two upstanding portions 4 and 5, the edge of each ofwhich is preferably serrated. The

toothed edge of part 4 extends slightly above ,3

that of the edge of part 5 and is in contact with vthe'underside of thewebbing 6 when the buckle is in position; the outer surface of thewebbing being in contact with the edge of the flattened upper side ofthe link 1.

The end of the webbing 6 is inserted between portions & and5 of plate 2and the portionsare then swedged together to firmly hold the webbingtherebetween. The free end of the webbing is then passed through theloop 7 of the usual fastener and then through link 1. A downward pull onthe garter serves to swin'gplate2about the trunnions 3 in such directionas to firmly grip the webbing between the top of the link and the upperserrated edge of the part 4.

When adjustment of the garter length is desired it is only necessary tograsp the vertical edges of the link with one hand and pull upon thefront lower portion of the webbing with the other hand to rock plate 2about the trunnions 3 into the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon thewebbing may be adjusted in either direction. A downward pull on thegarter then locks the buckle at the desired position.

Preferably the sides of link 1 are inclined inward, as shown, and part 4of plate 2 is provided with raised portions 4* adapted to en gage thesides of the link when the buckle is in closed or locked position. Thisarrange ment permits the plate 2 to be rocked just past the plane of thelink 1 into locking position and is of advantage in preventingaccidental opening of the buckle when the garter is not under tension.Satisfactory buckles may be constructed, however, without employing thisarrangement as the friction of the parts is in most cases sufiicient toprevent accidental opening of the buckle.

In flattening the upper edge of link 1, preferably the corners of thelink are kept round, as are the sides thereof, to strengthen the linkand to avoid tearing of the webbing at the edges.

The modified form of buckle illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 comprises alink member 1 formed from sheet metal and provided at its lower sidewith an upstanding port-ion 4 and with bearings 3 and a plate member 2serrated along one edge and pivotally mounted in the bearings 3' of. thelink. The portion 1: serves to hold the end of the webbing 6; thewebbing being first inserted between the portion l and the lower side 8of the link and the parts being then swedged together. After passagethrough the loop of the hose fastener, the webbing is passed over plate2 and through link 1'. Preferably plate 2 is mounted for but a limitedangular rotation about the bearings 3 to insure that a. downward pull onthe garter will rock the plate 2 into the vertical position, illustratedin Fig. 6. where its upper serrated edge cooperates with the upper sideof the link 1 to lock the buckle in position. As in the modificationillustrated in F l to 5, the buckle may be opened for adjustment of thegarter length by a downward pull on the front lower portion of thewebbing while grasping the vertical sides of the link with the otherhand, and yet, unless tension is so applied. the buckle remains locked.

Two mechanical embodiments of the inventive idea have now beendescribed; each embodiment comprises the two cooperating members one ofwhich is in the shape of a link the upper edge of which is in contactwith the front surface of the garter webbing, and the other of which ispivotally mounted on the link member and has one edge in en gagementwith the under surface of the webbingwhen the buckle is in closedposition. In each modification the buckle when closed lies extremelyflat and has no projecting metal parts adapted to catch upon apparel ofthe wearer. The buckle is self-locking in that a downward pull upon thegarter serves to cause the buckle to grasp the webbing more firmly. As aminimum of metal is employed, and as there are but two parts to thebuckle, it may be manufactured most economically. The two modificationsillustrated differ only in tnat in one the webbing is swcdged to theplate (Figs. 1 to 5), whereas in the other the webbing swedged to thelink member (Figs. 6 and 7). The buckle of Figs. 1 to 5 is preferred inthat it permits the use of wire for the link, and is therefore moreeconomical to manufacture. Also there is a more positive closing of thebuckle of Figs. 1 to 5 by a downward pull upon the garter webbing due tothe fact that the plate member engages the id of the webbing.

i ilthough the edge of the plate member adapted to engage the undersurface of the webbing has been shown in each embodiment as providedwith teeth, suflicient gripping of the webbing may be obtained withoutserrating this edge.

The term swedged is used herein and in the claims in the sense in whichthat term has heretofore been used in this art, namely, to mean anyoperation by which the end of the webbing is pinched or clamped betweenmetal pieces by pressure upon the metal.

The following is claimed:

1. A webbing buckle comprising a link member through which the webbingmay pass, and a plate member hinged to the link member and adapted toengage the undersurface of the webbing and clamp the same against thelink member with the plate member substantially in the plane of the linkmember. and attaching portions for an end of the webbing on one of saidmembers normally extending from the hinge connection upwardly toward theclamping side of the link member, the said portions being adapted to beswedged together to secure an end of the webbing therebetween.

2. A webbing buckle comprising a link member and a plate memberpivotally mounted thereon, said plate member being provided with aserrated edge to contact with the under-surface of the webbing and tocooperate with one side of said link member to clamp the webbingtherebetween, and said plate member having attaching portions whichextend normally toward the clamping side of the link member and areadapted to be swedged together to secure an end of the webbingtherebetween.

3. A webbing buckle for garters comprising a wire link having a portionof one side open, a plate member pivotally mounted on the ends of thewire adjacent the open portion of the link, said plate member comprisingtwo portions adapted to be swedged together to hold the end of thewebbing therebetween, one of said portions being adapted to cooperatewith the other side of the link to hold the buckle in adjusted positionalong the webbing.

4-. A webbing buckle for garters comprising in combination a link memberand a plate member hingedly connected together along the lower side ofsaid link member, said plate member being swedged to the end of thewebbing, and means for adjustably holding the webbing between the upperedge of said plate member and the upper side of said link member.

5. A buckle according to claim 4: wherein the upper edge of said platemember is serrated and engages the under surface of the webbing when thebuckle is in adjusted position. 7

6. A webbing buckle for garters comprising in combination a link memberand a plate member pivotally mounted on the lower side of said linkmember, said plate member being provided with projecting portionsadapted to engage the sides of said link when the plate member isrotated to a position just past the plane of said link member wherebyaccidental opening of the buckle is prevented, said plate member beingswedged to the end of the Webbing.

7. A webbing buckle comprising two relatively movable members connectedtogether, one of said members being formed in the shape of a link oneside of which comprises a smooth edge adapted to engage the outersurface of the webbing when the buckle is closed, the other of saidmembers being provided with web securing portions normally extendingtoward the said edge of the link and adapted to be swedged together tohold the end of the webbing therebetween, and one of said portionshaving an upper edge adapted to engage the under-surface of the Webbingand to co-operate with the first mentioned edge of said link member toclamp the webbing therebetween.

8. A webbing buckle comprising a link member and a plate memberpivotally mounted on said link member, said plate member comprising twoportions adapted to be swedged together to hold the end of the webbingtherebetween, one of said portions being adapted to co-operate with aside of the link member to hold the buckle in adjusted position alongthe webbing.

9. A webbing buckle comprising a link member having upper and lowerportions and two side portions, a plate member pivotally mounted on saidlower portion of said link member and adapted to co-operate with theupper portion of said link member to hold the webbing therebetween, oneof said members being swedged to one end of the webbing.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein the side portions ofsaid link memberare rounded to revent tearin of the sides of thewebbing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN B. RUSS.

